Mother, 8-Year-Old Son Killed In NJ Fire

ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — A woman and her young child were killed in a fire Sunday night in Essex County, according to authorities.

The fire broke out at around 11:30 p.m. on Berkely Avenue in Orange. A passerby who noticed the flames called 911 and banged on the door to try to alert anyone inside, but got no response, authorities said.

Mother, 8-Year-Old Son Killed In NJ Fire

“When we arrived, we found the building was completely sealed up and the companies forced the front door in and went inside to attack the fire,” said Orange Fire Director Michael Down. “Unfortunately, they found two victims.”

Tanji Dewberry, 37, and her 8-year-old son, Evan Soler, were killed in the blaze, authorities said.

Sources said it appears an electrical problem sparked the fire in the boy’s bedroom, where firefighters found both bodies, CBS 2’s Weijia Jiang reported. Investigators believe Dewberry was trying to rescue her son.

Tanji Dewberry on WLNY 10/55’s The Couch on March 29, 2013. (credit: WLNY)